Heritage of Lancaster County 03 The Reckoning (10 page)

Mary sighed softly so as not to stir things up again. She was truly relieved that the matter had been dropped and quite abruptly at that.

"You just have a bad case of cabin fever, that's all," Rosie said. "Which is quite easily remedied."

Katherine wasn't so sure. "Have you looked out the window lately? There's still plenty of snow everywhere. I don't know if it would be safe to go out just yet."

Rosie shook her head. "Street crews are out in full force. Have been all morning."

"So you think Theodore might be able to get around on the road all right?"

Rosie continued to dust and straighten up the sitting room adjacent to Katherine's bedroom. "I've never known a better chauffeur than Theodore Williams. You were very fortunate to have him stay on."

Katherine was curious. "What do you mean? Was he thinking of retiring?"

"Well, when Laura became so ill, he'd toyed with the possibility of ending his duties here--if and when she passed away."

"Really?"

Rosie nodded. "Yes, he'd thought of quitting, leaving the work to Rochester, the junior chauffeur, but you know what happened to him."

Circling the large room, Katherine wished she were the one cleaning up the place. It still seemed odd to have

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paid help working around her, always straightening things up, things she'd made messy. "I guess I don't miss Rochester much," she admitted. "But then again, I hardly knew

"The young man needed lessons in etiquette, among other things," Rosie said, lifting a vase to polish the sofa table. "It wouldn't surprise me if he changed vocations after

Master Bennett dismissed him."

"Oh... why's that?"

"He just didn't seem to fit in around here. In my opinion, Rochester wasn't cut out to chauffeur high-society people."

Katherine felt suddenly self-conscious. "You mean fancy people like Dylan and Laura Bennett?"

Rosie stopped dusting. "Oh, dear me, no ... I didn't mean what you must be thinking. You're one of them, too. A refined young lady. I see it in the way you enjoy fine things."

Rosie was overstating her case, it was clear to see. "But I was raised Plain... Amish," said Katherine. "I'm really not one of the elite, so to speak."

"Oh, but you are," Rosie insisted. "And you'll be surprised at how very quickly your backward ways ... thoughts, too, probably, will begin to drop away. It's only a matter of time. You'll see."

Just now, the way her housemaid was going on about things, Katherine wasn't sure at all how she ought to view herself: English or just not quite.

Rosie began to explain further. "Look at the way your artist friend has taken to you. Certainly, Justin Wirth has noticed your aristocratic roots shining through--your mother's genteel background, of course."

Shivering at this awkward revelation, Katherine dismissed Rosie's comment, hoping that the interest Justin had shown her had more to do with Katherine herself than her

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fancy biological roots. Politely, she excused herself and went in search of Theodore Williams.

She found him outdoors, sweeping the back steps free of snow, the heavy shoveling already done. "Good afternoon," she called to him as she stood on the wide side porch.

Tipping his hat, he grinned. "What a nice change from such a storm." He paused to look up.

She followed his gaze, breathing in the crisp air and watching clouds skitter across a still-hazy sky. In the distance, the ridge was a gray-blue smear on the horizon.

"Is it safe out on the roads yet?" she asked hesitantly. He nodded. "Where is it you'd like to go?"

She hadn't told a soul of her plans, but she was eager to find out about doing some volunteer work. "What about the hospice downtown . .. where Nurse Judah sometimes works?" she asked.

"Oh, the Canandaigua Hospice?"

"Yes, that's where I'd like to go." She said it with all confidence, hoping to see again the cheerful nurse who had personally tended to Laura during the most critical phase of her illness.

Theodore leaned on the broom. "When would you like to leave?"

She checked her watch, still unaccustomed to wearing jewelry, and--of all things--a right fancy jeweled timepiece. "Is one hour from now too soon?"

"Absolutely not. I'll bring the car around the front entrance promptly at three o'clock."

"Thank you, Theodore. I'll be ready." She turned to go inside, nearly bumping into Rosie, who was waiting just outside the kitchen, near the butler's pantry.

"May I have a word with you?" Rosie asked, her face drawn, eyes anxious.

"What is it?"

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"I'm afraid I may have offended you, Katherine. I may have spoken out of turn--talking about your.., past, that

is."

"Please, don't think a thing of it." Katherine understood what the maid was attempting to make right between them. She had wondered, upon further reflection, if Rosie might not come to this conclusion regarding her comments made in the sitting room earlier. "You've done nothing but good for me since I came here. You owe me no apology."

Rosie's face broke into a smile. "It's a pleasure to serve you, Miss--"

"Just Katherine."

Rosie's eyes met hers. "That's what I like about you. You're so easy to be around.., no airs. None of the elitist manner of thinking."

She agreed. "Let's keep it that way, jah?"

Rosie had to chuckle. "Very well."

Without further discussion, Katherine excused herself once again and hurried past the main kitchen by way of the narrow hallway, then to the main corridor ofhe house and to her suite.

Downtown, the streets were well plowed and adequately sanded, according to Theodore, who sat squarely in the driver's seat while Katherine occupied the back, off to the right side.

She watched several people, wearing heavy coats, hats or scarves, boots, and either mittens or gloves. Peering out from behind the tinted limousine window, she contemplated each of the folk, some waiting at stoplights to cross the street.

In those faces she saw purpose. Some were headed to

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make deposits of money at the bank, no doubt, others, to visit the post office. Still others were out for a bit of fresh air after having been cooped up for two solid days. Store lights twinkled in shop windows, and she thought of the Eno glischers having to suffer without electricity indefinitely. Why, their world would surely crumble over such a hardship. Yet, if truth be told, she'd enjoyed the lack of electrical lights, an excuse to use firewood for heating and cooking at Mayfield Manor. And just now, thinking about it, she wondered how the staff might feel if, on occasion, they outened the lights and used candles and lanterns in the mansion. Something to consider ....

Natalie Judah's face lit up when Katherine first spotted her. "Well, hello again."

She smiled at the nurse. "It's good to see you."

"You're looking well," Natalie said, extending her hand.

"Thank you." Katherine glanced around the common room. Its walls were bordered with lush and leafy greenery, and at one end an aviary was filled with many colorful birds flying about. Such a tranquil setting for a terminally ill patient. "I can feel the peace in this room," she said.

Natalie, dressed in a soft blue sweater and cream-colored trousers, looked so natural and relaxed that it dawned on Katherine she'd never seen Laura's nurse in street clothes. Nurse Judah must've noticed Katherine glancing at her nonprofessional attire. "The charge nurse and all the staff wear casual clothing here at the hospice," she explained. "One of the ways we can connect more closely with our patients."

"How many are there?"

"We have a twelve-bed unit here presently but could

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care for ten more if we had the space." Natalie went on tosay that the hospice was highly regarded in the community."We've been here for many years and have literally out-grown the building."Katherine paid close attention, concerned that she notmiss a single word of the nurse's comments. "Do you havea music program?" she asked, thinking of her guitar."We have a traveling unit that can be rolled from roomto room, and once a week we have a flutist and harpist duowho come to entertain. It's quite therapeutic, even for thestaff," said Natalie, smiling. "So, yes, we do encourage vol-unteers who are musically inclined. Would you like to have: a tour?""I'd love one, thanks."Although she didn't ask to see any of the privaterooms, where hospital beds and personal belongings werelocated, Katherine did enjoy touring the dining area. Longfamily-style tables encouraged conversation and fellow-ship for those who were able. Most of all, she was takenwith the enormous aquarium filled with numerous color-ful fish.She decided toward the end of the tour that a hospicesuch as this was a lovely, peaceful place to spend one's finaldays on earth.Farther down the hall, Katherine was surprised to see ayoung boy, gaunt and pale, sitting in a wheelchair. Hecouldn't have been more than eight or nine, and somethingabout him reminded her of Levi Beiler, Bishop John's son inHickory Hollow. Her heart went out to the child.., to allthe patients, and she was glad to offer her time and her ser-vices.At the end of the quick tour, she asked if she could dis-cuss the process involved in becoming a volunteer. "I'm veryinterested." "Sure. Come with me." Nurse Judah led her to a small

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room where several nurses' aides sat, having coffee. "Would

you care for something to drink?"

"Water's fine."

Natalie let the water run before holding a clean glass under the spigot. "How have you been, Katherine... since Laura's death?"

"As well as you might expect. It's never easy losing a family member, even though my birth mother was someone I hardly knew." She remembered her manners. "How have you been?"

"Oh, busy as usual. I meet myself coming and going these days." Natalie handed her the glass of water, then motioned toward a vacant table in the center of the room.

Katherine sat down and took a sip, knowing how it felt to be that busy.., to fall into bed at night, completely exhausted from the day's activities. She'd grown up that way, getting up nearly as tired as she'd gone to bed. But those days were far behind her now.

"I was hoping I might be able to help out with your younger patients," she offered.

Natalie seemed pleased. "Client volunteers are always welcome. We do offer a concentrated two-week training program, and an interview is required along with an application."

"I'll be glad to do whatever is required."

Natalie poured herself a cup of coffee. "We're shorthanded at the present time, so I can set you up with the screening right away."

"Thank you. It means an awful lot to me." Katherine felt out of control suddenly, an unexpected lump forming in her throat.

"Are you all right?" Natalie's gaze narrowed, and she reached over to cover Katherine's hand with her own.

"I'm looking forward to getting out around people again," Katherine admitted. "The mansion, as big as it is, is

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quite confining at times. I don't know how to explain it, really."

Natalie seemed to understand. "Yes ... I imagine it would be, by contrast."

"I'm also thinking of starting a quilting class. I want to set up frames in the manor library. Know of anyone who might be interested?"

Natalie's eyes grew big. "Are you serious? You're going to teach traditional Amish quilting patterns?"

"Beginning with the popular Ninepatch and working our way up to one of my favorites--the Country Songbird," she replied, growing more excited about the idea as she watched Natalie's face.

"Count me in. When do we start?"

"Right away. As soon as I can round up a frame or somebody to build me one."

Natalie blew on her coffee. "I know" of several Amish settlements in and around Canandaigua. Someone from our fund-raising committee might know who does that sort of thing."

"Really?"

"Oh, absolutely. One of the reasons is that we have specially handmade quilts--some are Amish-made, I believe-- displayed on the wall in each patient's room."

She'd never thought of doing such a thing with a quilt, though she could see why English folk might choose to. "What a nice way to decorate."

"Oh, it certainly is. Quilts are warm and cheery; often tell a story. We even have a few with the creators' names sewn right on the individual squares.., really lovely."

They talked more about Katherine's idea to offer a class for beginning quilters at Mayfield Manor. Natalie's response was so surprisingly positive, Katherine felt spurred to act quickly. Along with her volunteer work at the hospice, the quilting class would help crowd out nagging thoughts of

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Dan. Such a wonderful-good plan it was.

On the return trip, Theodore slowed the limousine to a stop in front of the post office, waiting for a red light. Spying people rushing in and out to mail their letters and packages, Katherine's thoughts wandered back to the letter she and Rosie had concocted for Mary, and wondered whether or not it had been delivered to the Hickory Hollow address.

She could only hope that her friend might receive it with all the love that was intended, and that it might not pose a problem for one so dear.

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Mary's bedroom--with only a bed, a small table next to it, an upright cane chair, and a narrow dresser with a medium- sized mirror attached--was nearly bare. She wasn't bothered by the room's simple furnishings. Rather, she liked the openness, preferred the expanse of the hardwood floor to fancy rugs and coverings.

She wrapped herself in a quilt and sat on the edge of her small bed, kischblich--silly--with delight. Tomorrow, here, in this house, she would come face-to-face with John Beiler again. Oh, she could hardly stand the thought of wasting the night by sleeping through it, not with the moon coming in through the window like a spotlight on her soul!

The quilt dragged behind her as she went to the window and stared out at the barnyard and on past the tobacco shed and beyond, where the land lay open in wide, sweeping patches. Snow lay heavy on the ground and in the distance, against the evening sky, two bright stars grinned down at her.